Finding a suitable nursery for your little one is an emotional and difficult process, especially if you haven’t had to do it before. As a mum who has done it twice, there are some things I learned along the way which I want to share with you to celebrate National Kindergarten Day.
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Look around as many as you can: Even if you already have a favourite because you know another child who goes there or you have heard good things about the nursery- still visit all of your local ones. The newest one might not offer the flexibility a nursery that has been around a bit longer does. Similarly, one that is on your doorstep might have had a high staff turnover as opposed to one a little further away that has has long standing members of staff. The more you view, the more astute you will get at asking the right questions and spotting the potential flaws.
Talk to friends and family: If you know someone who already has their child in a nursery you are planning to visit- ask them for their honest opinion of the place. They might sing its praises but they may make you aware of an issue that you would only find out about once your child is enrolled. At the very least, it will give you an area of focus or enable you to ask a more pressing question at your visit. Similarly, if you know someone who works in or runs a nursery in your social circle, pick their brains about what to look out for and what ask if they have heard anything good or bad about the potential nurseries.
Book a viewing: Viewing the prospective nurseries is essential to get a feel for the environment your baby will be playing, sleeping and eating in. Some nurseries will ask you to look around after hours when it is quieter, but if you can, try and book an appointment during the day to see how everything is run at full capacity as this will give you a truer reflection of how smoothly everything operates. It goes without saying, spend a lot of time in the baby room having a look around at the facilities. If anything doesn’t feel right, this is your opportunity to ask whether it can be altered or not.
Read the latest Ofsted report: Always check what rating the nursery got on the last Ofsted report and read all the available information online following their last visit- this is available for public viewing so is easily accessed. If they didn’t score an outstanding- why? If you can’t find a reason in the report, ask the question when you see the manager of the nursery.
Meet the staff: Ask who will be the person looking after your baby and talk to them directly- if this means moving your visit to when they are in, do so so you can talk to them one on one and enquire about their experience, qualifications and how long they have been there. If you are unable to meet the person who will be responsible for your child’s care, or you simply don’t get a good feeling about them, you may want to think about going elsewhere.
Book a settling in session for your baby: These are generally comprised of one with you in attendance and two where you leave your child for a short period of time to get accustomed to being there without you. Use the session where you can stay to have a good look around and take a list of questions. Always write them down because you can guarantee you will forget them once you arrive if you don’t.
Do a practice run: If you have to drive to your baby's nursery, try the journey at the time you will be taking them and picking them up a few weeks before their expected start date. You may encounter traffic or road works you hadn't taken into consideration so be sure you know how long it will take you to get there so you’re not late for drop off or work.
BONUS: Put some money aside: Most nurseries will want a deposit of one or two day's worth of payment to secure your baby’s place so make sure you have some funds set up a few months before your baby is due to start so you can pay this in advance.
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